System and method for manufacturing fittings and connections for biaxially-oriented plastic pipes

Abstract

The present invention discloses a system and a method for manufacturing fittings and connections for biaxially-oriented plastic tubes in an integral way from straight preformed tubes, with the possibility of adjusting and distributing the thicknesses as well as adjusting the specific stretching in the different areas of the fittings, allowing them to be reinforced or optimized during the method itself and without causing an increase in the production time or an increase in the raw material used, such that it allows for the manufacture of fittings of different geometric shapes (curves, tapers, couplers, branches, etc.)

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for manufacturing fittings and connections for biaxially-oriented plastic tubes from a straight preform tube of a non-oriented polymer tube which comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the system comprises:
 a heater configured to control the temperature of the preform tube; 
 a first gripping head and a second gripping head, wherein the first gripping head is configured to grip the first end of the preform tube and the second gripping head is configured to grip the second end of the preform tube; 
 a handling support configured to support the first gripping head and the second gripping head, 
 a base plate that supports two mobile pieces configured to move about; 
 a mold that comprises at least two parts, wherein each one of the parts of the mold is arranged on a mobile piece of the base plate, wherein the mold is configured to orient a deformed tube or the preform tube when the at least two parts of the mold are arranged in contact; 
 a tempered climatic chamber configured to maintain the temperature of the preform tube at a first predetermined temperature; 
 
       wherein the handling support together with the first and second gripping head are disposed in the tempered climatic chamber and are configured to at least rotate, stretch, contract or deform the preform tube. 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least the first or the second gripping head comprises an insertion/extraction system for a fluid in the inside of the deformed tube or the preform tube. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mold further comprises a clamp arranged at ends of the mold, coinciding with the first end and the second end of the preform tube when the at least two parts of the mold are arranged in contact, wherein the clamp is configured to clamp the deformed tube or the preform tube when the at least two parts of the mold are arranged in contact. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cutter and/or a finishing tool configured to cut the ends of the fitting or connection. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a distribution table wherein the preform straight tube of the non-oriented polymer tubing is arranged and is configured to cut the preform tube into pieces of varying lengths. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the mold further comprises a clamp arranged at ends of the mold, coinciding with the first end and the second end of the preform tube when the at least two parts of the mold are arranged in contact, wherein the clamp is configured to clamp the deformed tube or the preform tube when the at least two parts of the mold are arranged in contact. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a cutter and/or a finishing tool configured to cut the ends of the fitting or connection. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a distribution table wherein the preform straight tube of the non-oriented polymer tubing is arranged and is configured to cut the preform tube into pieces of varying lengths. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a cutter and/or a finishing tool configured to cut the ends of the fitting or connection. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a distribution table wherein the preform straight tube of the non-oriented polymer tubing is arranged and is configured to cut the preform tube into pieces of varying lengths. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a distribution table wherein the preform straight tube of the non-oriented polymer tubing is arranged and is configured to cut the preform tube into pieces of varying lengths. 
     
     
       12. A method for manufacturing fittings and connections for biaxially-oriented plastic tubes from a straight preform tube of a non-oriented polymer tube which comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the method is carried out with the system of  claim 1 , and wherein the method comprises:
 a heating stage, wherein a temperature control of the preform tube is carried out; 
 a tempering stage, wherein a temperature control of the preform tube is maintained at a first predetermined temperature; 
 a gripping stage wherein the gripping of the first end of the preform tube and the second end of the preform tube is carried out, 
 a stage of rotation, stretching, contraction and/or deformation of the preform tube after the stage of gripping the first end of the preform tube and of the second end of the preform tube; 
 a molding stage having a mold that comprises at least two parts, wherein in the molding stage the orientation of a deformed tube or of the preform tube is carried out when the at least two parts of the mold are arranged in contact. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a stage of inserting/extracting a fluid inside the deformed tube or the preform tube. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a stage of clamping the deformed tube or the preform tube when the at least two parts of the mold are arranged in contact, followed by a stage of pressurizing a sealed space defined by the mold. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a stage of cutting and/or finishing the fittings or connections. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a stage of cutting the preform tube in pieces of varying lengths. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a stage of clamping the deformed tube or the preform tube when the at least two parts of the mold are arranged in contact, followed by a stage of pressurizing a sealed space defined by the mold. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a stage of cutting and/or finishing the fittings or connections. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a stage of cutting the preform tube in pieces of varying lengths. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a stage of cutting and/or finishing the fittings or connections.